Mino washi
Encyclopedia
is a type of Japanese paper
created in Gifu Prefecture
, Japan
. In 1985, it was designated a Traditional Craft by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry
(now the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry).
in eighth century Japan, when the high quality paper was first made in Mino Province
. Some of the original paper is still preserved in Shōsōin
in the city of Nara
in Nara Prefecture
. During the Heian period
, government officials were dispatched to the area when paper standards, such as size and color, were first established.
During the first part of the Kamakura period
, Mino washi was relatively unused and unknown; however, because of activities during the Nanboku-chō period and the Ōnin War
, the low-cost Mino washi came into more widespread use. Also, the Toki clan
, who served as the shugo
of Mino Province at the time, promoted industries and paper production as a way of strengthening the area and their power. Many members of the monk
and kuge
classes in Japan would visit the area and use the paper, bringing it back to their homelands, increasing the distribution of the paper. Eventually, merchants began to sell the paper throughout Japan, too.
During the Edo period
, regulations were put in place regarding sales of the paper and the area further flourished as a special production area. As uses for the paper increased (including in shōji
and other common uses), the amount of production increased and it became a well-known paper.
became an important port to merchants traveling up and down the Nagara River
. As a result, Mino washi and other goods that traveled from the upper-Mino region came ashore in the city and were sold in many tonya
. Because of the high quality of the paper, it was used in many of the traditional crafts within the city, including lanterns
(岐阜提灯 Gifu Chōchin), umbrellas
(岐阜和傘 Gifu Wagasa) and fans
(岐阜うちわ Gifu Uchiwa). Mino washi has become essential to the creation of these traditional crafts. The tonya in the Kawara-machi area of the city managed to survive the Gifu air raid during World War II
, so the tradition continues today much as it has for hundreds of years.
Washi
is a type of paper made in Japan. Washi is commonly made using fibers from the bark of the gampi tree, the mitsumata shrub , or the paper mulberry, but also can be made using bamboo, hemp, rice, and wheat...
created in Gifu Prefecture
Gifu Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the Chūbu region of central Japan. Its capital is the city of Gifu.Located in the center of Japan, it has long played an important part as the crossroads of Japan, connecting the east to the west through such routes as the Nakasendō...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. In 1985, it was designated a Traditional Craft by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry
Ministry of International Trade and Industry
The Ministry of International Trade and Industry was one of the most powerful agencies of the Government of Japan. At the height of its influence, it effectively ran much of Japanese industrial policy, funding research and directing investment...
(now the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry).
History
The origin of Mino washi can be traced back to the Nara periodNara period
The of the history of Japan covers the years from AD 710 to 794. Empress Gemmei established the capital of Heijō-kyō . Except for 5 years , when the capital was briefly moved again, it remained the capital of Japanese civilization until Emperor Kammu established a new capital, Nagaoka-kyō, in 784...
in eighth century Japan, when the high quality paper was first made in Mino Province
Mino Province
, one of the old provinces of Japan, encompassed part of modern-day Gifu Prefecture. It was sometimes called . Mino Province bordered Echizen, Hida, Ise, Mikawa, Ōmi, Owari, and Shinano Provinces....
. Some of the original paper is still preserved in Shōsōin
Shosoin
The is the treasure house that belongs to Tōdai-ji, Nara The building is in the azekura log-cabin style, with a raised floor. It lies to the northwest of the Daibutsuden...
in the city of Nara
Nara, Nara
is the capital city of Nara Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. The city occupies the northern part of Nara Prefecture, directly bordering Kyoto Prefecture...
in Nara Prefecture
Nara Prefecture
is a prefecture in the Kansai region on Honshū Island, Japan. The capital is the city of Nara.-History:The present-day Nara Prefecture was created in 1887, making it independent of Osaka Prefecture....
. During the Heian period
Heian period
The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. The period is named after the capital city of Heian-kyō, or modern Kyōto. It is the period in Japanese history when Buddhism, Taoism and other Chinese influences were at their height...
, government officials were dispatched to the area when paper standards, such as size and color, were first established.
During the first part of the Kamakura period
Kamakura period
The is a period of Japanese history that marks the governance by the Kamakura Shogunate, officially established in 1192 in Kamakura by the first shogun Minamoto no Yoritomo....
, Mino washi was relatively unused and unknown; however, because of activities during the Nanboku-chō period and the Ōnin War
Onin War
The ' was a civil war that lasted 10 years during the Muromachi period in Japan. A dispute between Hosokawa Katsumoto and Yamana Sōzen escalated into a nationwide war involving the Ashikaga shogunate and a number of daimyo in many regions of Japan....
, the low-cost Mino washi came into more widespread use. Also, the Toki clan
Toki clan
The was a powerful clan that ruled in Japan from the Kamakura period to the Edo period. It descended from Emperor Seiwa by Minamoto no Yorimitsu from the Minamoto clan and used Toki in Mino Province as their hometown...
, who served as the shugo
Shugo
was a title, commonly translated as "Governor," given to certain officials in feudal Japan. They were each appointed by the shogun to oversee one or more of the provinces of Japan...
of Mino Province at the time, promoted industries and paper production as a way of strengthening the area and their power. Many members of the monk
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
and kuge
Kuge
The was a Japanese aristocratic class that dominated the Japanese imperial court in Kyoto until the rise of the Shogunate in the 12th century at which point it was eclipsed by the daimyo...
classes in Japan would visit the area and use the paper, bringing it back to their homelands, increasing the distribution of the paper. Eventually, merchants began to sell the paper throughout Japan, too.
During the Edo period
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
, regulations were put in place regarding sales of the paper and the area further flourished as a special production area. As uses for the paper increased (including in shōji
Shoji
In traditional Japanese architecture, a shōji is a door, window or room divider consisting of translucent paper over a frame of wood which holds together a lattice of wood or bamboo...
and other common uses), the amount of production increased and it became a well-known paper.
Traditional craft of Gifu
Starting in the Edo period, the area surrounding Nagara Bridge in the city of GifuGifu, Gifu
is a city located in the south-central portion of Gifu Prefecture, Japan, and serves as the prefectural capital. The city has played an important role in Japan's history because of its location in the middle of the country. During the Sengoku period, various warlords, including Oda Nobunaga, used...
became an important port to merchants traveling up and down the Nagara River
Nagara River
The has its source in the city of Gujō, Gifu Prefecture, and its mouth in the city of Kuwana, Mie Prefecture, Japan. Along with the Kiso River and Ibi River, the Nagara River is one of the Kiso Three Rivers of the Nōbi Plain. Previously, the river was named Sunomata River . With a length of , it...
. As a result, Mino washi and other goods that traveled from the upper-Mino region came ashore in the city and were sold in many tonya
Tonya (Japan)
, called toiya outside of Edo, were trade brokers in Japan, primarily wholesalers, warehouse managers, and shipment managers; the term applies equally to the traders themselves and to their shops or warehouses...
. Because of the high quality of the paper, it was used in many of the traditional crafts within the city, including lanterns
Gifu Lanterns
, or Gifu Paper Lanterns, are a special product of the city of Gifu in Gifu Prefecture, Japan. They have been labeled as one of Gifu's traditional crafts...
(岐阜提灯 Gifu Chōchin), umbrellas
Gifu Umbrellas
, or Gifu Japanese Umbrellas, are a special product of the city of Gifu in Gifu Prefecture, Japan. They have been labeled as one of Gifu's traditional crafts.-History:...
(岐阜和傘 Gifu Wagasa) and fans
Gifu Fans
are hand-held fans created as a special product of the city of Gifu in Gifu Prefecture, Japan. They have been labeled as one of Gifu's traditional crafts and have a history dating back to the Muromachi period...
(岐阜うちわ Gifu Uchiwa). Mino washi has become essential to the creation of these traditional crafts. The tonya in the Kawara-machi area of the city managed to survive the Gifu air raid during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, so the tradition continues today much as it has for hundreds of years.